‘So funny’: Cricket world bewildered by ‘unusual’ dismissal

Andrew Reid

Chasing a daunting 437 to win, Bangladesh batsmen were troubled by Sri Lanka spinners Praveen Jayawickrama and Ramesh Mendis who took the five wickets on a crumbling wicket.
Sri Lanka set Bangladesh a formidable target of 437 by declaring their second innings on 194 for nine at the hill city of Pallekele. No team has successfully chased such a large target in Test history.

Bangladesh’s first innings at bat saw left-arm spinner Taijul Islam given out in truly unfortunate circumstances.
The tailender was facing Sri Lanka’s Suranga Lakmal when he stepped backwards to play a defensive shot off a short ball from the paceman.

Islam’s back foot slid along the pitch but slipped off and hit the wicket, knocking the bails off the stumps.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers looked rather sheepish as they celebrated the wicket, with Islam understandably baffled by the dismissal.
Commentators and viewers were equally as puzzled, before it became clear that the Bangladesh batsman’s shoe wad the cause of his downfall.